Review Request Text Message Templates That Follow CASL

A good review request text message template is the cheapest marketing asset you'll ever write. Two lines, one link, sent while the visit is still fresh. Most Canadian owners get the wording right and the rules wrong.

Texts count under Canada's Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL). The CRTC says CASL covers commercial messages sent by SMS to mobile phones, and the maximum penalty for a business is $10 million per violation.

That ceiling isn't the point. The point is that the burden of proving consent sits with you, and most small businesses never record it. Here's how to write review texts that are fast, friendly and legal.

Is a review request a commercial message under CASL?

CASL applies when one purpose of a message is to encourage the person to take part in a commercial activity. The CRTC says a pure survey with no commercial content isn't covered, but you can't sell under the guise of a survey.

A plain "how did we do" text may sit outside CASL. Add "book your next visit" or "10% off" and it's a commercial message for sure. A discount tied to a review also breaks Google's rules.

Our stance: treat every review request as if CASL applies. It costs one extra line of text and removes the guesswork. This is a practical read of CRTC guidance, not legal advice.

So-what: don't spend time arguing about exemptions. Build the three rules into every message.

The 3 CASL rules your review texts need

1. Consent. Express consent is a clear opt-in, with no pre-checked boxes. Implied consent comes from a purchase in the last two years or an inquiry in the last six months. Either way, the onus is on you to prove it, so log when and how each customer agreed.
2. Identification. Name your business in the text. If there's no room for your contact details, the CRTC accepts a clear link to a web page that has them.
3. Unsubscribe. "Reply STOP to opt out" works for SMS. The option must keep working for at least 60 days, and you must honour a request within 10 business days.

The CRTC's advice for grey areas is short: if you're unsure, ask for express consent. A checkbox on your booking form or a question at checkout removes most of the risk.

So-what: consent is a data problem, not a wording problem. Fix your intake once and every text after that is easy.

Review request text message templates (copy and paste)

Each one names the business, asks for an honest review and includes an opt-out. Home service companies can trigger the second one when a job is marked complete, the same way we wire it up for HVAC teams.

1. Restaurants and retail: “Hi [Name], thanks for visiting [Business] today! If you have a minute, we'd love your honest Google review: [link]. Reply STOP to opt out.”
2. Home services: “Hi [Name], it's [Tech] from [Business]. Thanks for having us out today. How did we do? Leave an honest review here: [link]. Reply STOP to opt out.”
3. Appointments (salon, spa, studio): “Hi [Name], thanks for coming in to [Business] today. We'd value your honest feedback on Google: [link]. Reply STOP to opt out.”
4. One reminder, a few days later: “Hi [Name], [Business] here. No pressure, but an honest review helps a small Ottawa business a lot: [link]. Reply STOP to opt out.”
5. Tight on characters: “[Business]: Thanks for today, [Name]! Honest review? [link] Our info: [contact page link]. Reply STOP to opt out.”
6. Email version: Subject: “How did we do, [Name]?” Body: “Thanks for choosing [Business]. Could you share an honest review on Google? It takes about a minute: [link].” Sign off with your name, business, mailing address, phone and an unsubscribe link.

Notice what's missing: no "5 stars please" and no discount. Google's policy bans incentives and bars businesses from trying to influence the rating or content of a review.

So-what: the best review text reads like a thank-you note with a link, because that's what it is.

When to send your review request text

Send it the same day, within a few hours of the visit. The experience is fresh and their phone is in their hand. For a service call, wait until the job is done and the tech has left.

Freshness matters to readers too. BrightLocal found 32% of consumers look for reviews written in the last two weeks, up from 20% the year before. That's why review texts belong in your daily workflow, not a monthly blast.

Restaurants can see the full flow in our guide to getting 30 reviews in 60 days.

Send one reminder at most, and never late at night. If you already send appointment reminders by text, run review requests through the same system so consent and opt-outs live in one place.

So-what: timing does more work than wording. A decent text sent today beats a perfect one sent next week.